The next Critérium du Dauphiné returns to the high mountains, from May 31 to June 7, from Clermont-Ferrand, in the center of France, to Megève, in the Mont-Blanc massif, after a 2019 edition that had disappointed fans of great alpine passes.
"A concentrate of mountain", warned its organizer Christian Prudhomme during the presentation this Monday in Lyon of the reference race for climbers, less than a month from the Tour de France.
In detail, we note the arrival at the Col de Porte on Thursday, the Madeleine the next day on the road to Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, the climb of Bisanne on Saturday and the final circuit around Megève, by Romme and the Colombière. For climbers, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic who will come with his Dutch teammates Tom Dumoulin and Steven Kruijswijk, the Colombian Nairo Quintana, the Spaniard Mikel Landa, the terrain is therefore very favorable.
Much more than an alpine aperitif before the Tour de France, the program is assimilated to a menu as energizing as it is exciting. Especially since, this year, race director Gilles Maignan chose to skip the time trial, traditionally set for Wednesday. "To avoid freezing positions and leaving all tactical options open," said Prudhomme.
⛰ Here is the route of the 7⃣2⃣th edition of # Dauphiné!
⛰ Here is the route of the 7⃣2⃣nd edition of the # Dauphiné! pic.twitter.com/u50KRDJfb7
This radical change does not leave additional openings for sprinters. They will undoubtedly have only the first stage, a “copy-pasted” in the final of the stage of Lyon at the next Tour de France, and the arrival at Bourg-de-Péage at the end of the fourth. As long as you face attackers on often tricky courses like the Col du Auvergne du Béal on the first day.
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On the French side, Julian Alaphilippe is expected to depart from Clermont-Ferrand, like Thibaut Pinot. However, no official confirmation has been given from his team on the participation of the winner of the Tour, the Colombian Egan Bernal. No more than that of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who will then make his debut in the Great Loop. But the two young talents probably want to test themselves in the Alps, in competition format.
The stages (1325 km):
May 31: 1st stage Clermont-Ferrand - Lyon, 197 km
June 1: 2nd stage Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or (Rhône) - Saint-Christo-en-Jarrez (Loire), 181 km
June 2: 3rd stage Saint-Chamond (Loire) - Saint-Vallier (Drôme), 175.5 km
June 3: 4th stage Loriol-sur-Rhône (Drôme) - Bourg-de-Péage (Drôme), 173 km
June 4: 5th stage Vienne (Isère) - Porte pass (Isère), 132.5 km
June 5: 6th stage Corenc (Isère) - Saint-Martin-de-Belleville (Savoie), 156.5 km
June 6: 7th stage Ugine (Savoie) - Megève (Haute-Savoie), 156.5 km
June 7: 8th stage Megève - Megève, 153 km
